PETA Takes On Tyson

The current article you are reading does not reflect the views of the current editors and contributors of the new Ecorazzi

Mike Tyson’s new reality series “Taking on Tyson” premiered last night on Animal Planet – and PETA is less than thrilled over the show’s “racing” theme.

“If Mike Tyson truly loved birds, he would fight for their protection — not force them into a ‘race’ that tears them away from their families and subjects them to injuries, exhaustion and death,” PETA Vice President Lisa Lange said in a statement.

Ironically, Tyson – who genuinely loves his birds – has never actually raced them before. As Ken Tucker from EW.com alludes below, his involvement in the sport appears to simply fulfill a dramatic angle for television.

“Actually, I’m still not entirely convinced Tyson races homing pigeons, at least when there aren’t any cameras around, for pure enjoyment. It looked as though the producers had taken Tyson’s affinity for the birds and then surrounded him with a team of professional pigeon racers, who coach the fighter in the rules and discipline of their subculture, all for the purpose of a TV series.”